Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: BOOT SUPPORT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a boot support
particularly for womens' leather boots of a height to
cover a womans' calf. In particular, the boot support is
adapted to suspend womens' boots of this type to keep the
boots in a more orderly fashion and to reduce the
possibility of damage to the boots.
Boots in the retail outlets are normally
displayed in a flat condition with one boot laid on
another, or are suspended from a display rack which has a
host of fixed clips. In some circumstances the boots may
be placed in an upright condition, but they normally tend
to bend intermediate their heights and either strike
another boot or end up flat on the floor.
~ oots of this type are relatively expensive and
can be made of high quality leather. In winter
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the boots are removed upon entering the vestibule of a
premise and will often fall and can become soiled due to
dirt or salt that may have been on the treads of those
boots or other boots. The structure of the present
invention provides a simple inexpensive support
arrangements, where boots may be suspended to avoid damage
and to also provide a more orderly boot storage system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ . .
A boot support according to the present invention
comprises a base, an upright portion extending generally
perpendicular to the base adjacent one edge of the base
and a cantilevered arm slidable on the upright portion at
one end of the arm. The arm is biased by gravity to lock
with the upright portion under the influence of the weight
of the arm and the arm at the end remote from the upright
portion includes a releasable clip means adapted to engage
a boot at the top thereof. The gripping force of the clip
means is sufficient to maintain two boots suspended
therefrom.
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According to an aspect of the invention, the
cantilevered arm includes a collar slidable about the
circumference of the upright and lockable with the upright
due to a wedging action resulting from the moment applied
to the collar by the arm.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
the upright portion and a base portion are separable for
convenience of shipping and off season storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown
in the drawings wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the boot
support;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the boot support
positioned adjacent a wall;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the boot
support with the cantelever arms rotated to a storage
position; and
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing a
portion of the upright, and the portion of a cantelevered
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WH-6840-86 . 4 . 2153G/0035F
arm and the locking aspect of the arm relative to the
upright.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
,
For clarity and to more clearly show the various
components of the boot support, only one boot has been
shown suspended from each cantelevered arm 10 of the boot
support 2. The`spring clips 12 have sufficient strength
for suspending two boots from each clip, and this is the
preferred operation. Each cantilevered arm 10 at the end
remote from the clip 12 has a collar portion 14 which is
slidable on the upright portion 4. In the preferred
embodiment shown in the figures, the boot support has two
upright portions 4 interconnected by a top section 5 to
form one intregal unit. This intregal unit is secured to
the base 6 having feet portions 7 at either end of a
intermediate portion 8. The connection of the uprights 4
to the intermediate portion 8 is accomplished due to studs
extending from the upper surface of the intermediate
portion 8 with the studs generally shown as 16 in
Figure 2. There is one stud associated with each upright
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WH-6840-86 . 5 . 2153G/0035F
portion and the upright portion is adapted to slide
thereover and provide a snug fit therewith.
As can be seen in Figure 2, each cantilevered
arm 10 can slide along the associated upright portion 4 by
positioning the arm 10 generally perpendicular to the
upright portion 4 at which point the collar is easily
slidable along the upright portion. As soon as the arm
has been appropriately been positioned, release thereof
causes a slight downward angling of the arm 10, which
effectively locks the collar to the upright portion due to
a wedging action as generally shown in Figure 4. This
wedging action is sufficient to maintain the lock
engagement when two boots of the type shown generally as 1
in Figure 1 are suspended from the clip 12.
The boot support is directed to home use,
although it need not be so limited, and as such, has been
adapted to accommodate a base board generally shown as 50
in Figure 2. The upright 4 is angled slightly rearwardly
from the feet 6, and as such, is not quite vertical. This
rearward angulation makes the device somewhat more stable
and also allows the connecting portion 5 to come in
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WH-6840-86 . 6 . 2153G/0035F
contact with the wall or at least closely come in contact
with the wall. Otherwise, this portion 5 would be spaced
from the wall, at least the thickness of the base board 50.
When the device is not in use or temporarily not
in use, the cantilevered arms 10 may be swung to the
storage position, generally shown in Figure 3. In this
position, the arms 10 are intermediate the two upright
portions 4 and as such provide quite a clear region
whereby the boot support is unobtrusive.
The snap connection of the upright portions 4
with the intermediate portion 8 due to the studs 16 being
received within the hollow centers of the uprights 4,
allows the device to be placed in a storage position by
removing the uprights 4 from the studs, thus allowing the
entire structure to be stored in a relatively flat
condition. This would be done for example, for summer
storage, if not needed and for packaging. The device can
also be used for off season effecient storage of boots in
a manner to avoid damage of the boots.
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The spacing of the feet 6 either side of the
studs 16 allows boot supports to be placed in series along
a wall with generally equal spacing between arms placed
for suspending boots~. This generally implies the spacing
between the uprights in twice the spacing of said feet
from the closest upright.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
